Cutting torch attachment



July 6,1'943.

J. L cooK CUTTING TORCH ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 26, 1942 wucw K1,

f/77651. Cob/ atroz/mau Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING TORCH ATTACHMENT JamesA L'. Cook, Trinity Center, Calif. Application February 26, 1942, Serial No. 432,539

' 3 claims. (ci. 266,-23)

This invention relates generally to attachments for acetylene cutting torches, and pertains particularly/to an attachment which facilitates the cutting ofy a piece of metal in a circle.

I'he principal object" of the present invention is -to provide a device for attachment to an acetylene cutting torch whereby the cutting of a circular piece of metal can be accomplished easily and quickly, and the diameter of the circle can be accurately controlled with a minimum of diiliculty. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a centering device in combination with a gauge vadapted to .be secured to an acetylene cutting torch, whereby when said torch is rotated on the centering device the llame from the torch will be moved along a circular path, to cut a circle of the diameter indicated by the position of the centering device upon the gauge. A still further object is to provide a device of the above described character which can be applied to a ,torch easily and quickly, and which is automatically located in the proper relation with the flame nozzle, whereby no further adjustments are required other than to locate the centering devicein the proper position, to cut a circle of the desired radius. f The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the followingdetailed descrip- 'tion taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it being understood, however that ,the invention is not to be considered aslimited by the specific illustration or description, but that such illustration and description constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the` drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a torch, showing-the device embodying the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a'sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. v

Figure '3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the forward end of the radius bar.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the numeral I generally designates an acetylene cutting torch, which comprises the usual body portion 2, which carries the control handle or lever 3, and to one end of which are attached the acetylene and oxyg'en hose 4 and 5 respectively, the ilow of which gases into the body portion '2, being controlled by thumb screw yvalves 6. At

the Iopposite end of the portion 2 are the longitudinally extending pipes 'I and 8, which are connected with the nozzle head 9, to which is attached the nozzle or cutting tip I0.

The device embodying the present invention comprises the straight radiusV or gauge bar II, at the forward end of which there is carried the coupling ring I2, through whichthe cutting tip I0 of the torch is extended.Y This radius bar has a linear scale thereon, the same .being preferably in inches, and the rst-one inch graduation is measured from the center of the ring I2,

which would likewise be the axial center of the Y cutting tip I0, as illustrated.

The bar II maybe of any suitable cross-sectional design,`and it is here illustrated as being rectangular, so that it has a flat bottom side I3. 'I'his bottom side cooperates with the hereinafter described parts of the device, for maintaining an adjustable or sliding contact with such parts.

At its forward end the -bar II is secured between the ends of the legs of a spring yoke, which which due to the tension of the coiled part I1,

' has the cutting tip I0 extended therethrough,

tend to move or swing together to sharpen the angle between the portions, as shown in Figure 1. 'I'hus it will be seen that when the loop I6 is engaged over the top pipe 1, and the ring I2 the legs of the spring clip will draw the ring up tightly against the head 9, so as to maintain a tight connection between the bar and the cutting tip. The legs I5 are laterally bowed,` as shown in Figure 4, to facilitate passing theyoke over the head 9, when removing the device from the torch. l

While the radius bar II may be of any suitable length, it is preferably about 24 or 26 inches long, 'and is disposed beneath and in parallel relation with the torch body I asillustrated.

The rear end of the radius bar is maintained in position relative tothe torch, by means 0f the slip hose clip indicated generally by the numeral the hose clip and the major length thereof, comprises the two spaced resilient legs 2l, between -bridge 24, which rests upon the top edge oi the radius bar Il.

At the two ends of the body 22 are the downwardly extending interiorly threaded nipples 25 and 26, each of which at its upper end opens into the channel toward the lower edge I3 of the bar il. In the nipple 25 which is at the torward end of the channel and nearest the ring l2, there is threaded the stylus or centering pin 21, which has threaded thereon the locking nut 28, which bears against the end of the adjacent nipple 25, so as to secure the stylus in adjusted position. Alined with the center of this stylus is a gauge mark or line 29, which is carried by the body 22, and which cooperates with the graduations upon the radius bar, for locating the centering pin 21, the desired radial distance from the center of the ring l2.

Ihe centering device or head 2| is locked in a desired position upon the radius bar by the locking screw StL-which is threaded into the rear nipple 26, and bears against the under side I3 of the radius bar. 'Ihis locking screw carries a relatively large head 3l, by which its rotation is facilitated foreilecting quick securing or release of the centering unit. Due to the location of the bridge member 24 near the end carrying the stylus 21, and of the securing or locking screw -30 adjacent the opposite end of the channeled adjustment of the centering screw has been made, its position will not have to be changed.

In the use of the device for the cutting of a circle in a piece of metal, the center of the circle is marked by a centerl punch with a sufficiently heavy punch, to allow for vthe setting oi' the point ,of the screw 21 securely -in position. The operator then places the torch hose over his shoulder, so that it will be held clear of adjacent objects, and the cut inthe plate is then started, and the torch and attached device are slowly swung on the pivotal center, until the complete circle has been outlined.

vAs will be readily apparent, bychanging the position of the head 2l, the radius of the circle or arc may be readily changed, and also the device can be used not only for cutting circular; holes, but for cutting collars or annuli from a dat sheet of metal, and also ior cutting pieces of metal along various arcuate paths.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for a cutting torch having a cutting tip, comprising a bar, means carried by one end of the bar for coupling the same with said tip, means carried at. the other end of the bar for detachably coupling the same with the torch, the said means functioning to maintain the bar in parallel relation with the torch body,

for securing the centering unit in adjusted posi tion on the bar, and a resilient coupling carried by the rst mentioned end of the bar, and adapted to engage over the adjacent end oi' the torch, for yieldingly drawing the nrst mentioned means into secure engagement with the cutting tip.

' 2. An attachment for a cutting torch having a cutting tip, comprising a bar, a ring carried by an end portion o! thebar, and through which the cutting tip extends, an elongated body having a guide eye through which the.- bar extends, a p air of resilient legs between which the adjacent partof the torchI is frictionally held, and a centering unit slidably supported on the bar and comprising an elongated body having a channel in which the bar engages, a bridge across the channel adjacent an end of the body to exlallel relation with the tip, and a securing screw carried by the body adjacent the other end thereof, and adapted for {notional-engagement with the bar, for securing the latter and the unit in adjusted relation.

V3. An attachment for a cutting torch having a cutting tip, comprising a bar, a ring carried bythe bar to receive the tip, a clip member having a -guide eye designed to receive the bar. a pair oi' spaced resilient legs i'or the reception of the adjacent portion ofthe torch, a spring clip attached to the end of the bar adjacentto said ring, and constructed and arranged to engage over the adjacent end of the torch and draw the ring inwardly of the cutting tip, and a centering unit slidably supported on the bar and comprising an elongated body having a channel in which the bar engages, a bridge across the channel adjacent to an end of the body to extend over the bar, a pointed screw carried by the body at the end adjacent to the bridge, and directed away from the torch, and having a parallel relation with the tip. and a securing screw carried by the body adjacent to the other end thereof, and adapted i'or'i'rictional engagement with the bar for securing the latter and the unit in adjusted relation. j

, JAMES L. COOK. 

